Ignite the Entrepreneur

Foreword by

Brandon Dawson

Early in my career, I learned the importance of mentorship — drafting behind someone who is ahead of you and has accomplished the goals you are trying to accomplish. I recognized the significance of gaining experience from entrepreneurs who have “made it” and of utilizing their skills to better my own. That is why it is both a pleasure and an honor, even if just for a moment, to be able to be a mentor to you. Mentorship is a key component of success and that is why I am happy that you have chosen this book to provide mentoring inspiration in your journey. I hope that within these pages you will find stories, words, and ideas to propel you forward in your unique entrepreneurial adventure.

Finding the courage to become an entrepreneur is no small endeavor. Many people take the leap, but only a few of them make it. Statistics show about 20 percent of businesses will fail within their first year, and about 50 percent of small businesses fail by their fifth year. Many try and even more fail to take that leap and to persevere until you reach the dream. Success in your business comes down to how successful you are in working on yourself. Your leadership skills and willingness to grow within you will determine how well you grow your business, the team you assemble, and the customers you serve. It is a dedication and willingness that requires every fiber of you—when you can master that, you will become the master of your success.

I’ll admit, I didn’t always have this self-improving mindset. I wasn’t what people would label a born success, nor did I have on paper what others deemed as the skills to achieve it. I graduated high school with a 2.4 GPA and struggled throughout school. I grew up in a small Oregon town with a lot of farmland nearby, but not a lot of business mentors.

As a teenager, I lived with my dad, my stepmom, and her three boys. Although my parents weren’t rich, they wanted us to have a good education. Every year, they found a way to save $5,500 so that the three of us kids could attend a private Christian school. Finding creative ways to source and to save these funds became a devoted family activity. One of the main ways we did this was by harvesting and selling walnuts from our orchard. It was an arduous task and very time-consuming. I didn’t always enjoy it, but I knew it had to be done to help make ends meet. By the time I was a junior in high school, I was helping to bear the burden of my tuition by working in the walnut orchard during the day as well as working evenings in a restaurant as a busboy.

Despite my busy workload, I found time to have fun and be a 17-year-old boy, staying out late with my girlfriend and pushing the boundaries of my freedom. That particular summer, I stayed out past my curfew three nights in a row and found myself in the doghouse with my parents. My punishment just so coincidentally happened at the same time that my parents were leaving for a short out-of-town trip. Even though I was in trouble, I was somewhat comforted knowing that I wouldn’t lose my car as a penalty (because I still needed to drive to my job). Despite orders to abide by their restriction, I figured that if I left early for work, I could sneak some moments with my girlfriend on the way to the restaurant.